"I have one biological child. I received a letter from HMRC stating that I went to the Netherlands in June 2023 and never returned. My baby was conceived in January 2024, born in Belfast in October 2024, and has never left Belfast. I had travelled for one night for work and now Big Brother wants me to explain what I was doing before the baby even existed to claim child benefits."
"We're very sorry to those whose payments have been suspended incorrectly. Anyone affected should call the dedicated number on the letter we've sent them so we can confirm their eligibility and reinstate payments. We will no longer suspend any payments until we have checked with the recipient first, giving them a month to confirm if they are still eligible, it added."
HMRC paused suspensions of child benefit payments after incomplete Home Office travel data caused wrongful enforcement. About 23,500 payments were suspended in recent weeks, including many for families who had simply been on holiday without their return recorded. A claimant received a letter alleging a trip to the Netherlands in June 2023 despite conceiving in January 2024 and giving birth in October 2024 in Belfast. HMRC issued apologies, will stop suspending payments before checking with recipients, will cross-check Home Office data with PAYE records, and has set up a dedicated helpline and reinstatement team.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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